Video | 1.5 million attend Karol Woytyla's beatification ceremony

12.50pm - The beatification Mass has come to an end. Pilgrims will be able to venerate the John Paul II’s remains in a casket in St Peter’s Basilica, along with the reliquary that contains a vial of his blood. The Basilica will be open until every last pilgrim has been able to pray at the casket.

12.00pm - Pope Benedict XVI's speech is available here.

11.30am -  “Dear brothers and sisters, today our eyes behold, in the full spiritual light of the risen Christ, the beloved and revered figure of John Paul II. Today his name is added to the host of those whom he proclaimed saints and blesseds during the almost twenty-seven years of his pontificate.”

 “John Paul II is blessed because of his faith, a strong, generous and apostolic faith,” Benedict XVI says.

11.22am - During his speech, Pope Benedict XVI exclaimed: "John Paul II is beatified", amongst much applauding from the audience. Referring to him as "my beloved predecessor", Pope Benedict recalled how much the Catholics venerated John Paul II.

10.53am - Catholic faithful from all over the world, waving Polish flags and holding images of John Paul II, have poured into Rome to see Pope John Paul II become “blessed”, almost only six years after his death in 2005.

His feast day is to be October 22.

John Paul II was not only the third-longest reigning pope in history, but he has also been credited with helping to topple Communism and visiting more countries than his predecessors.

He was the also the first pontiff from outside Italy in 450 years to become pope.

The Vatican said he was seen in person by more than anyone else in human history. Roughly, he went on 104 foreign trips and was seen by roughly 17 million pilgrims at his audiences at the Vatican.

The beatification mass being held in Saint Peter's Square, has conferred "blessed" status on John Paul, who is now one step away from full sainthood.